Miss Lexi Turns 11 (heaven help me)

Lexi turned 11 this month. Can it be possible? I've been a mom for 11 years, and my first little sweet baby girl that I died over every second is now closer to teen years than toddler years?? It blows me away.

She got a new bike for her birthday.

She also got accessorized! She loves dressing up, wearing jewlery, feeling cute so she got a ring, watch, earrings, headbands, necklaces and clothes. She also got a gift card to Subway because it's her favorite. We had two mini family parties because my parents came up to give her a gift, and Dave's mom came up to give her a gift on seperate days. She was definitley not complaining about the two cakes. And she and I had a special shopping date too where she looked around for things to buy with her money and gift cards, and found nothing. She wants to wear the big kid clothes (at Hollister, American Eagle etc) but she is still too small.

I keep telling her not to wish to be old because she has her whole life to be old and she should enjoy being a little girl still... but she's not buying it.

My dad and I had a laugh over how Macey is RIGHT next to her in the birthday pictures. She would have sat on her lap if she could have! Obviously she was trying to feel like it was her birthday too! And she just worships the ground Lexi walks on. They have been playing so well lately and it makes me so glad.

Last night Lexi and I narrowed her list of six!!!! things (you know band, dance, piano, drama etc. etc.) she's involved in, down to 4 and we are feeling good. She's always been a kid who's excited about life and wants to try EVERYTHING and I usually support her because she's so excited and she can handle it. BUT my rule is only 2 things. So I pick piano, and she picks dance. But then all these other things sneak in, like an opportunity to do an after school math class (how can you say no to that?) then she makes the drama club (well, she tried out and gave it her all so I have to let her), then all of her friends are trying volleyball so I give in to that too and it goes on and on. Before I know it- she's over booked. So we narrowed things down and cut out half of the dance classes and we're feeling good. She's going to have a LOT more free time which is how it should be... and I know that... and I want that for her.... so why do I always get trapped and things add up so fast? I'm determined to be better at saying no (not only to her, but to her teachers, friends etc.) She has an insane amount of homework this year so I'm glad for the free days she will have now.

Anyway, I don't know if it's like this for other mothers, but my oldest child is my hardest to parent. Not because she's hard, but because I'm terrified of messing things up! Everything with her is new and not something I've done before so I worry about doing it all wrong. So far, everything has turned out fine so I really should relax and trust myself but it's easier said than done. I bet if I looked back at her birthday posts in past years they would all say the same thing.

Anyway, I love you Lexi my little eleven year old!!!

Now Mack is awake in his bed so I must run and get him. Until next time...